If the poor people in our society can have access to high quality education, the fight against poverty will be easier. Many naturally intelligent kids from poor families do not go very far in life because they don’t go to good schools. This creates a vicious circle of poverty.
Kids at Ganet's School
It is against this background that Ganet’s Adventure School was established by Getrude Banda in Mkondezi village, 5km west of Nkhata Bay, Malawi in 2004.
Getrude Banda, founder and director of Ganet's School
Currently the school has an enrolment of around 100 pupils aged between 4 and 16. Lessons are taught in English and Chichewa, and cover a wide curriculum including Maths, Science, French, Music and Physical Education.
The school, however, did not have permanent classrooms. As a result, it was closed down by the Malawian education ministry along with several hundreds of other schools in December 2009.
Group photo at Ganet's school before it was closed by government
Since then, Steve McInerny, who is one of the school’s trustees and the driver behind the school’s presence in the social media, has been busy coordinating fund-raising from the UK.
In Malawi, the school’s founder and director, Gertrude Banda, has overseen the building of a block of 2 classrooms, an office and new toilets. The classrooms are now complete and the school is hoping to receive permission to reopen any day now.
The new school block at Ganet's School
Steve’s connection with the school dates back to 2005 when he volunteered at the school, during a cycling trip from Cairo to Cape Town. Since then, he has helped to support the school from the UK, where he is working as a graphic designer in London.
I have been in touch with Steve for the past few weeks. He has given me a detailed account on how he helps the school to link up with donors and well-wishers. He makes the following points:
- Cheaper and widely available internet access: Back in 2005, the nearest internet access was in Mzuzu, around 50km away. Now there are 2 internet cafés 4km away in Nkhata Bay, and while internet access can be unreliable, this is hugely useful for Gertrude when she sends out updates on the school.
- Cheap international phone calls from the UK to Malawi: These prices have come down massively, from over £1 per minute 14 years ago to 8p per minute now, meaning it has become much cheaper and easier to talk with Getrude from UK and other parts of the world.
- Groups and profiles for the school on social media sites: With only have a limited amount of spare time available to support the school, Steve has created groups and profiles on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Myspace which have enabled the school to keep their two hundred or so followers updated quite easily and with no technical knowledge. A few years ago, this would have meant producing a printed newsletter, which is expensive and time consuming.
- School website: With a little more technical knowledge, plus open source WordPress software and free hosting kindly provided by LCN.com, they have been able to set up a website at no cost, which forms the hub of their online presence. They have created a simple online shop on the site, again free to set up, through paypal’s shopping cart feature, through which they sell Christmas cards through each year.
- Easy fundraising: Fundraising has been made easier for donors and for fundraisers with the help of virginmoneygiving.com, a not-for-profit subsidiary of Virgin. Recruitment for riders for their sponsored cycle ride this year took place almost entirely online, and at almost no cost.
I really like the objective of Ganet’s Adventure School and I will always try to help them in any way possible. I would like to see them grow and set up more schools in the rural areas across the country.
Children from poor families must have access to good education and resources so that they can realize their full potential and break the vicious circle of poverty.
As far as using communication technologies for linking up with donors and well-wishers is concerned, Ganet’s Adventure School presents a very good example for other not-for-profit organizations to emulate. But, as I usually say, check your motives!
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10 users commented in " How Ganet’s Adventure School in Malawi uses communication technologies to connect with donors "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThis is a great initiative pretty much unknown in Malawi. I hope Steve has a plan to get more Malawians involved in this.
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Great job! This will give the kids a chance to a good quality education which will be a stepping stone for them to reach their goals. I wish the school will be granted permit to reopen soon. With the recent developments in Information Technology, providing updates and getting in touch with the school’s donors are now easier (and less costly too!) as compared to how it was several years ago.
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I salute Steve and Getrude for having the big heart to help the children in Malawi to have the necessary learnings they need in school. I believe we can all fight poverty whatever country are we in if we just start to do our part. Me and my fiancee have been sending (an 8 year old girl) to school who is a citizen in africa. We haven’t seen her yet but she’s been writing to us atleast once every two months. It feels good knowing you are helping somebody build their future.
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First of all I would like to say that I am very grateful for what Steve and Gertrude are doing. So many people (including myself) want to help out but somehow never get around to it. That is why it is so inspiring to see this project coming along so nicely and I pray to god that the school will be able to reopen asap. These children deserve the education and knowledge and especially the IT knowledge that has become so vitally important in our society.
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This is a great thing steve and others are doing. It takes a lot to be so selfless and strive only to help others. I wish i could say that about myself. I am truly envious.
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This is such an inspiring story – thanks for sharing.
Matt
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VERY inspirational story!!! we cater to the unemployed at http://iget2work.com and one of the things we tell people is, HELP OTHERS while you’re unemployed. It’s key on so many levels. I notice in life that when you do the right thing, rewards come no matter what.
Getrude Banda will be our employee of the month for december 2010 to remind us just how difficult it can be for doing something basic….like giving children an education!
i especially love the name of the school!
bravo and keep up the good work!
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It is amazing how things can come together like that. How two people can have such an impact on so many others. The new building looks great and I hope it is opened as soon as possible. Thank you to everyone involved.
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Grat job !
I salute Steve and Getrude for having the big heart to aid the children in Malawi to have the necessary learnings they need in college. I believe we can all fight poverty whatever nation are we in if we just start to complete our component. We haven’t observed her but but she’s been writing to us atleast once every two months. It feels excellent understanding you are supporting someone develop their potential.
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This is another inspiring story. People like Getrude Banda is truly an inspiration to all. Paving the way of education to poor and less fortunate individuals in Malawi.
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